Not making a big deal of this, but if I had known that others had got it for the Blitz, (most obviously by messages to this list), then I would not have bothered
to go there on final opportunity on Sunday (because there was little point in doing so, as I had nothing to add) and would have instead gone to one or all three of the other sites that I usually do but ran out of time to do this year.
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Sunday, 27 October, 2019 6:02 PM
To: 'Canberrabirds'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Common Sandpiper is still at Isabella pond today
I have just come back home from Isabella Pond. My final “blitz survey”. Unless I go out again after dinner……. I again arrived at the pond from Isabella drive
and walked along the southern side, towards the very eastern end. Only took me a minute or two to see the Common Sandpiper. The clean white front being really obvious. It stood very still right beside a rock. Within a metre or 2 of where it was when I first
saw it with Shorty & Geoffrey, 20 days ago. Just on the water’s edge, below the 2 white chairs. Still sort of close to the 1 pied stilt. To get closer I then walked over the foot bridge then down to below the chairs. I got to within about 5 metres of it for
about 2-3 minutes, then it flew 5 M out to a rock and stood there teetering, then flew across to the concrete wall on the north east side and perched on the lower ledge of the wall (just like in Geoffrey’s earlier photo). It has a very jerky flight.
I had not found it on my last few attempts.
No one else has mentioned it this weekend. But then there is strangely little comment so far. I wonder if anyone else got it for the blitz…….. No, I am not
asking for others to rush out……….. OK maybe tomorrow.
Philip
